Tyler White revels in Houston Astros' title

Monday

Former Gastonia Post 23 and Gastonia Grizzlies standout spent part of the season with the Astros

HOUSTON - Tyler White says it still hasn't hit him just yet that he's a world champion baseball player.

A former Gastonia Post 23 American Legion and Gastonia Grizzlies Coastal Plain League standout, White has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Houston Astros.

And while White wasn't on the active roster for the Astros' four games to three World Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was on the bench at Dodger Stadium and took part in Houston's historic championship celebration.

"It's tough not to play but it was an unbelievable ride," said White, a 2009 Chase High graduate who was a 33rd-round pick of the 2013 draft by the Astros out of Western Carolina. "I just tried to help out anyway I could. It was an awesome experience."

White, who was active for the 3-1 ALDS win over the Boston Red Sox and inactive for the 4-3 ALCS win over the New York Yankees, becomes only the fourth World Series champion with Gaston County connections.

In 1954, Lowell native Whitey Lockman was the starting first baseman for the New York Giants. In 1961 and 1962, Belmont High graduate and Gastonia Post 23 standout Harold Stowe was a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. And last year, North Gaston High graduate and Gastonia Post 23 standout Jake Buchanan was a late-season roster addition as pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.

White and the Astros won that franchise's first World Series in its 57-year history. And the celebration of that title was greeted by nearly one million fans at a victory parade last Friday in downtown Houston.

"It was one of the coolest experiences I've ever seen," White said of riding in the victory parade. "My girlfriend (Houston native Alli Spivey) cried the whole time because it was so emotional."

Adding to the emotion was the devastation many in the Houston area suffered in late August when Hurricane Harvey struck with record-setting rainfall and flooding.

White's home, which is located near the NFL Houston Texans' NRG Stadium, wasn't damaged by the hurricane.

But he certainly was aware of the hardships in nearby communities and in other parts of town.

"We got lucky and it didn't flood where we were," White said. "But so many people suffered and so many of those people have told me how much joy this baseball playoff run has given them. It makes you feel good and it's very humbling."

White was in his second year with the Astros' organization when Sports Illustrated declared in its June 25, 2014 cover story that the organization would win the 2017 World Series title.

Houston finished the 2014 season with a 70-92 record - or the organization's first season with less than 100 losses since 2010.

"It seem far-fetched at the time," White said. "But it was actually pretty cool to see it and even cooler that we helped make that come true."

White has played with current Astros' teammates like Carlos Correa, Chris Devenski, Lance McCullers, George Springer and Brad Peacock during his stops in the organization since he broke in with the Gulf Coast Rookie League Astros in June 2013.

White has been promoted at least once every year since - and has now won five titles.

He helped Tri-City to the Class A New York-Penn League title in 2013, Lancaster to the Class A California League title in 2014, Fresno to the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and Class AAA national title in 2015 and now the 2017 World Series championship.

Of course, when White played for his father (Brian White) with Gastonia Post 23 in 2009, he hit .500 to become Post 23's first player to hit .500 or better since 1995.

Two years later, he helped the Gastonia Grizzlies to their first league title in 2011 while hitting .291 and in 2012 he led the Grizzlies in batting average (.319), home runs (5) and RBIs (38).

Now after splitting the past two seasons between Fresno and Houston, White will enter 2018 spring training with hopes of staying with the major league club all season long.

"I'm already working to be ready for spring training," said White, who hit .300 with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs in 111 games with Fresno and .279 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 22 games with Houston. "Hopefully, I can crack the lineup but I'll settle for a roster spot.

"I learned a lot in the playoffs and I'll be looking to progress even more as a player."

Richard Walker: 704-869-1841; twitter.com/jrwalk22

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